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Many Americans begin their holidays with travel, and complaining about that travel is quickly becoming a favorite national pastime. Long lines, small seats, hidden fees for everything from carry-ons to a can of Coke - the list goes on. To help us understand why this is the new reality, we reached Seth Kaplan. He's the editor of Airline Weekly.
Mr. Kaplan, good morning.
SETH KAPLAN: Good morning, Linda.
WERTHEIMER: Why is travel by air regarded as so unpleasant today? And why are airlines so unresponsive - in some cases, downright hostile to the frustrations their customers feel?
KAPLAN: Well, I think it's largely a question of expectations. Flying has now become democratized, like so much else. It's something that far more people can afford to do, and that far more people do because fares are so much lower, because airlines have removed a lot of things that they now see as optional services. And if they offer them at all, they charge for them.
WERTHEIMER: Your feeling is that the very best thing the airlines have to offer, at this point, is safe and cheap. Let's talk about cheap because when you try to book a flight, it's very hard to tell if you're really getting cheap - because there's the quoted fare, and then there are all these fees, and there are all these taxes - which, in some cases, cost more than the actual ticket. And customers don't necessarily know that until they pull up to the gate and find that they're not, in fact, going to be able to travel as inexpensively as they thought.
KAPLAN: Yeah. And this is another question of expectations and a legacy of how things used to be.
WERTHEIMER: Well, but the expectation that you're going to pay X because the airline said that's what the fare was, and then you find out that that's not true, that's an expectation that everybody has about everything - if you know the price and pay the price.
KAPLAN: Airlines were actually unique among different kinds of businesses that we all patronize, in that they long included all sorts of things that, if you were inventing the industry today, you wouldn't do any of that. If you were starting in the industry today, it would never occur to you to provide food and drinks as part of the service with air travel. You would probably charge for all those things - just as trains do, just as all kinds of businesses do. But that's how it used to be, and that's a legacy of...
WERTHEIMER: You know, I think you're overstating this used-to-be thing and the legacy factor. I mean, most people alive today have never had good service from airlines.
KAPLAN: Well, again, it depends on what you define as good service. If you define good service as safe, reliable, on-time transportation at a reasonable fare, well, apparently, it's about as good now historically as it's ever been, and that's why more people are traveling.
WERTHEIMER: Do you think any of this sort of bad feeling that people have about flying nowadays is going to change?
KAPLAN: Well, I think that it will stabilize. I think that consumers have been through a lot these past few years. So, you know, I think people will get used to this, and they're probably not going to complain to the same degree several years from now about these same things, you know, because we'll just all be fairly used to this.
WERTHEIMER: Do you think there's any possibility, or any merit to the idea, that airlines might compete on the basis of service as well as price?
KAPLAN: Well, when we think about, you know, JetBlue providing complimentary in-flight satellite television - and many others offering things like that - you know, they are competing on service, to one degree or another. The airlines that only compete on price are the exception, not the rule. You know, having said that, certainly, you know, our definition of what makes good service might have changed over the years. But most are still trying to attract customers based on something other than price alone.
WERTHEIMER: Mr. Kaplan, thank you very much.
KAPLAN: Thank you.
WERTHEIMER: Seth Kaplan is the editor of Airline Weekly. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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The president's annual state of the union address is another example of how dysfunctional our government in Washington has become.
Article 2, section 3 of the US Constitution says that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union…."
The president is the chief executive of our government. As chief executive, it makes sense that he report periodically about the state of affairs to the body responsible for passing laws, the Congress, so they have a sense of what needs to be done.
If handled correctly, the State of the Union should be like the annual report of a corporate chief executive to shareholders. It should convey key information so that stakeholders know what's going on.
But that's not what happens. This isn't about informing stakeholders. It's about political calculations and pitching a laundry list of proposals, invariably with wonderful benefits, and rarely any perceivable costs, designed to make the President and his party look good.
President Obama introduced in this year's State of the Union address his proposal to create new retirement accounts for, in the words of the White House, "the millions of low and middle-income households earning up to $191,000." What they are calling "MyRAs."
How could enhancing retirement savings not be a good idea? And, even better, it is a free lunch. Again in the words of the White House, "the account balance will never go down in value" and will be totally secure because it will be "backed by the U.S. government."
President Obama is creating these accounts with the greatest of ease, without even a new law from Congress, by doing what he has done better than any president in American history. Drive the U.S. government into debt.
These wonderful new retirement accounts will receive bonds from the U.S. Government. And who guarantees them?
Please, dear reader, if you are a U.S. taxpayer, look in the mirror and say "me."
If the State of the Union was really about the president informing Congress and the nation, he would have reported the following from the recent 2013 Long-Term Budget Outlook report of the Congressional Budget Office:
"Federal debt held by the public is now about 73 percent of the economy's annual output…higher than at any point in U.S. history, except a brief period around World War II, and it is twice the percentage at the end of 2007."
"CBO projects," the report continues, "that federal debt held by the public would reach 100 percent of GDP by 2038….even without accounting for the harmful effects that growing debt would have on the economy."
Meanwhile, as President Obama uses U.S. government bonds to create magical new risk-free retirement savings accounts, there was not a word in the State of the Union of the broken state of affairs of the government's oldest retirement plan — Social Security.
According to Social Security's latest trustees report, the revenue shortfall, in today's dollars, of projected requirements of Social Security to meet its long-term obligations is $9.6 trillion. Beginning in 2033, when those now in their late forties start retiring, there will be only funds "sufficient to pay 77 percent of scheduled benefits."
If the president really wants to enhance retirement savings of low and middle income Americans, and create real savings and investment while addressing the fiscal disaster of Social Security, let these folks opt out of the Social Security black hole and use those funds to open a real retirement account.
This is what was done in Chile and it worked. The Chilean economy grew because the new retirement accounts directed investments into the real economy (as opposed to creating more government debt) and Chilean workers have achieved real returns and newly created wealth.
Wouldn't it be novel if the president really reported on the State of the Union each year and if we solved our existing problems before creating new ones?
Star Parker is founder and president of CURE, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, a 501c3 think tank which explores and promotes market based public policy to fight poverty, as well as author of the newly revised Uncle Sam's Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America's Poor and What We Can do About It.
Also See,
President Obama versus Hobby Lobby

subset: commoncrawl


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Here's the beginning of an article of mine that's in this month's Yes! Magazine:
If Christmas is about presents, then in 2007, my little family and I had no Christmas. I mean, we had the caroling and the uncle playing the piano and the cousins running around with my three-year-old, Isabella, and the grandfather coaxing her to sit on his lap and the good food.
We had, in other words, an amazingly good time.
What we didn't have, though, was the average American's $800 hole in our bank accounts, gouged out by Christmas-present spending. Nor did we have the credit card debt still unpaid by June. Nor the forcing of smiles for gifts we didn't really want. Nor the buying of extra luggage to bring home those unwanted gifts. Nor the stressful rush of last-minute crowds at the mall.
Without presents, you see, we didn't have the sensation that I, at least, normally associated with Christmas—the stress. And without stress or presents, it's not Christmas, right? But of course it was. It was the best of Christmas, the part that, research shows, makes people happiest. It was all the upside without the downside...
To read the rest, click here, then come back and leave your comments!
Colin Beavan (that's me!) is now leading a conversation about finding a happy, helpful life at Colinbeavan.com. If you want to know how people are breaking out and and finding authentic, meaningful lives that help our world, check it out the blog here and sign up to join the conversation here.


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Rapper/mogul Shawn
"Jay-Z" Carter has entered into a deal to sell clothing company Rocawear
for $204 million in cash to the Iconix Brand Group, a company that licenses and
markets such popular brands as Candies, Joe Boxer, Mudd, London Fog, Ocean Pacific
and others. The
deal, which was announced today, (Mar. 6) could also net Jay-Z $35 million in
Iconix stock, if the Rocawear brand meets certain performance requirements over
the next three-five years."Iconix
is pioneering a new brand management model and by combining Rocawear with their
platform, my team and I can focus on our strengths in design and lifestyle
marketing." Jay-Z said. "I'm also looking forward to working with Neil
Cole and the Iconix organization on other brand development opportunities."Jay-Z
will continue to be in charge of all product development, marketing and licensing
for Rocawear, which boasts annual retail sales of over $700 million. The
rapper will retain his stake in the operating company the manufactures all of
the Rocawear men's apparel line, and the mogul's two partners, Alex Bize and Norton
Cher, will continue to run the manufacturing company. "This
is the largest acquisition Iconix has made and Rocawear is a brand that is increasing
in market share and has extraordinary potential for growth," said Neil Cole,
Chairman and CEO of Iconix Brand Group commented. "The leadership team is
already in place to fulfill our mission and we will maintain complete continuity
within the business by having Jay and his team in charge of all product development,
licensing and marketing. Jay and his partners in the operating company that manufactures
all of the Rocawear men's apparel, Alex Bize and Norton Cher, will become our
licensee for the core business. Iconix will add talent and resources that I believe
willhelp make Rocawear a billion dollar global brand. This acquisition will
be transformative for Iconix in terms of its scale, the diversification it brings
to our portfolio of brands as well as having someone as talented as Jay-Z joining
our company and the many synergies that could bring."Iconix
is forecasting that Rocawear, which was founded in 1995, will generate almost
$43 million in royalty revenue during the first 12 months of the agreement.Iconix
and Jay-Z have also reached a deal to form a new brand management/licensing company
that will debut a new luxury brand titled The Shawn Carter Collection, which is
due in stores in 2008.The
deal is expected to close this month.


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When used to treat pediatric patients with intracranial malignant tumors, proton therapy may limit the toxicity of radiation therapy while preserving tumor control, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.
Typically, central nervous system malignancies are treated with surgical resection and post-operative radiation therapy. Proton therapy, an external beam radiation therapy in which protons deliver precise radiation doses to a tumor, offers significant sparing of healthy tissues outside the target region, compared to conventional photon radiotherapy. Proton therapy is frequently used to treat central nervous system malignancies in young children in order to minimize the amount of radiation exposure to their still-developing brain. Although this therapy holds great promise, to date, published clinical data are limited.
This study evaluated the largest reported group of pediatric patients treated with proton therapy―70 patients with localized ependymoma, a relatively common childhood tumor. The patients in the study ranged in age from one to 20 years and were all treated with involved-field proton radiation at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from October 2000 to February 2011. Forty-six of the patients (66 percent) had a gross total resection, meaning that the tumor was completely removed; and 24 patients (34 percent) had a subtotal resection, meaning that only a portion of the tumor was removed.
Upon patient follow-up at 46 months after proton therapy treatment, the three-year local control was 83 percent; progression free survival (PFS) was 76 percent; and overall survival (OS) was 95 percent. The researchers found that subtotal resection surgery correlated with decreased PFS (54 percent) and OS (90 percent), compared to the patients who underwent complete tumor removal prior to proton therapy, who had a PFS of 88 percent and an OS of 97 percent.
In addition to survival outcomes, cognitive and endocrine outcomes were analyzed. Neuropsychological assessments were administered before and after proton therapy to measure total intelligence quotient (IQ). Scales of Independent Behavior (SIB-R), a written questionnaire that assessed functional independence, were completed by the patients' parents. Within a subset of 14 of the patients, the average IQ was 108.5 at baseline, and 111.3 after two years of follow-up. In a larger group of 28 of the patients, overall SIB-R score was 100.1 at baseline, and 100.8 after two years of follow-up. It was also noted that few patients developed evidence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), hypothyroidism or hearing loss.
"This study represents the best available evidence on the use of proton radiotherapy in the pediatric population," said Shannon MacDonald, the principal investigator of the study, a pediatric radiation oncologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital. "Our analysis is the first to present auditory, endocrine and cognitive outcomes, the domains expected to benefit from this highly streamlined form of radiation therapy. Given the increasing numbers of proton facilities and the high cost of proton treatment, this data was urgently needed to provide evidence-based guidance on proton therapy outcomes for pediatric brain tumor patients."
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Cite This Page:


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Marissa Mayer has been both scrutinized and praised over her past two years as the CEO of Yahoo. At just 39 years old she has the technical expertise to understand the computer science behind the Yahoo matrix, (after all, she was the first female engineer and famously 20th employee at Google) but she's also notorious for good fashion and celebrity credibility.
Mayer has been responsible for bringing on social startup Tumblr and will be at the helm when one of China's biggest e-commerce providers, Alibaba, goes public this year (Yahoo's share of that IPO has a value estimate around $26 billion dollars ). Yet she still helms a company whose ad revenue is on the decline.
Related: Which Company Led the Way for Tech Acquisitions in 2013?
For better or worse, being CEO of a major corporation such as Yahoo has provided Mayer with tons of insight and lessons that most people will never experience. July 17 marks her second anniversary as CEO of Yahoo. Here are five quotes from the executive that will have you thinking about your big vision of leadership and business.
I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that's how you grow. When there's that moment of 'Wow, I'm not really sure I can do this,' and you push through those moments, that's when you have a breakthrough.
It's a common theme among the most successful entrepreneurs that they think big and push themselves beyond their comfort levels. Mayer says the same. How can you achieve a breakthrough? What barriers can you bust through in your business?
I have a theory that burnout is about resentment. And you beat it by knowing what it is you're giving up that makes you resentful.
We all face burnout, but Mayer has an interesting point. Can you beat burnout by figuring out what it is that you're neglecting? Balance can help you build a platform of personal stability. Try to achieve it by identifying what you're missing and work to reincorporate some element of that theme back into your experience.
If you can find something that you're really passionate about, whether you're a man or a woman comes a lot less into play. Passion is a gender-neutralizing force.
Passion isn't exclusive to any sex. Go for what you're passionate about no matter what it is and who you are. As Mayer says, it's the great equalizer.
Related: Arrive Late to a Big Meeting? How to Recover.
You can be good at technology and like fashion and art. You can be good at technology and be a jock. You can be good at technology and be a mom. You can do it your way, on your terms.
There's nothing wrong with having a robust set of interests and passions. Never let one thing about you define who you are. We're all multifaceted individuals and often where talents and passions collide is where the magic happens. Mayer has a passion for technology and a knack for aesthetics. Those can be two seemingly unrelated things but have played well for her career and for Yahoo overall.
It's really wonderful to work in an environment with a lot of smart people.
There's a fear-based thinking style that some entrepreneurs harbor that makes them want to surround themselves with people who aren't as good as them. That's a huge mistake. Surround yourself with people who are better than you and set your ego aside. A room of brilliant people will bring about amazing change. Mayer knows it and says it's wonderful. She's right.
Related: Report: Hot CEOs Bolster Stock Values, Earn Better Salaries


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According to u what are the different benefits of article submission . Does article submission effective the link popularity. Share your suggestions with me.
Name branding
Link popularity
Targeted traffic
Building your own web presence
Free advertising
well article submission can be usefull in different ways .
you can generate a likn for your niche to give a authority vote for your website .
you can attract tragetted traffic for your better business sale and presence.
article submission is the main part of internet marketing.
A benefit of article submission is depending upon quality of your article. It should be unique and informative to your readers. Choose quality article submission websites like ezine . com then only you can get reputation for your article.
Article Submission will give you a one way link to your website.
Article Submission will give you the huge amount of traffic to your website.
It will give better SERP for your website
Links from article directories no longer carry significant weight since the Penguin update introduced by Google a couple of months ago. And popular article directories used to be capable of bringing in traffic to your website indirectly as they tend to rank high in the search results. However, things changed when Panda was introduced.
Because of the reasons above, I would rather stay away from article directories, at least for now, and opt to pitch for guest blogging opportunities on "picky blogs".
Here's a video on link building methods that you should adopt post-Panda and Penguin: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/the-death-of-link-building-and-the-rebirth-of-link-earning-whiteboard-friday
i've always been a fan of article submission. It's like a form of free advertising. You get people to read what you want to say, plus you can lead them to your site for more information. It's really up to you to see it's effectiveness. Try writing sensible and interesting contents that would attract your target population.
here are some benefits
increase traffic
increase pagerank
increase backlinks
increase value
Article submission have large amount of benefits.
Article submission is very effective technique in seo because its provide you quality back link for your website and provide you rank on google and other search engine. It also provide a lots of traffic for your website.
As there seems to be nothing new to add here, thread closed.


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Standard of Excellence Enhanced, Book 1 Clarinet
Regular price
The Standard of Excellence ENHANCED Comprehensive Band Method Books 1 & 2 combines a strong performance-centered approach with music theory, music history, ear training, listening, composition, improvisation, and interdisciplinary and multicultural studies. Each book comes with two CDs containing all the full band accompaniments and the revolutionary iPAS Practice and Assessment Software. Directors will welcome the complete accompaniments and inspiring software. Students will find the new package makes practicing not only fun but effective, too! The result is the most complete band method available anywhere.


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Yard & Garden Calendar – January 2019
Home (indoor plants and activities)
Keep holiday poinsettias and other plants near a bright window. Water as top of soil becomes dry.
Increase humidity around houseplants by grouping plants together, placing them on a pebble-water tray or running a humidifier.
Check stored produce and tender flower bulbs and roots for rot, shriveling or excess moisture. Remove and discard damaged material.
Repot houseplants as they outgrow current pots.
Yard (lawns, woody ornamentals and fruits)
Check young trees for rodent injury on lower trunks. Prevent injury with hardware cloth or protective collars.
Keep road and sidewalk salt away from plants. Construct a screen of burlap, if necessary, to keep salt spray off plants.
"Leaf" through nursery catalogs or visit websites and make plans for landscape and home orchard additions. Order plants early for best selection.
Early spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia, crabapple, flowering quince, and flowering dogwood can be forced for early indoor blooms by placing cut branches in water in a warm location.
Garden (flowers, vegetables and small fruits)
Send for seed catalogs for the garden.
Sketch your garden plans on paper, including what to grow, spacing, arrangement and number of plants needed.
Order seeds and plants as early as possible for best selection.
Wood ashes from the fireplace can be spread in the garden, but don't overdo it. Wood ashes increase soil pH, and excess application can make some nutrients unavailable for plant uptake. Have soil tested to be certain of the pH before adding wood ash.


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Paul Cellucci deserved better than to have his memorial service sullied by William Bulger.
The Massachusetts political establishment paid a fond tribute to the former governor and ambassador, who died this month of Lou Gehrig's disease, at a State House ceremony filled with dignitaries from across the political spectrum. It was heartening to see old rivals join in honoring Cellucci, an engaging, public-spirited mensch — the kind of politician who gives politics a good name. But Bulger's presence at such an event wasn't heartening. It was disgraceful. And so was the reception he met.
To anyone who didn't know better, the former president of the Massachusetts Senate appeared to be just another Beacon Hill grandee — a longtime public official, now retired but clearly still at home in the political realm where for decades he wielded so much influence. But of course everyone did know better.
Everyone in that House chamber knew that while Bill Bulger was "seated up front, applauding with all the rest," as the Globe reported, his brother, the gangster and accused serial murderer James "Whitey" Bulger, was "seated a few miles away, in federal court in South Boston," on trial at long last for a blood-chilling catalog of alleged crimes, including 19 grisly killings. Everyone knew that Whitey could have been brought to justice long ago if he hadn't fled in 1995, tipped off by a corrupt FBI agent that he was about to be indicted. Everyone knew that during all those years when Whitey was a fugitive from the law, high on the FBI's Ten Most-Wanted list, Bill refused to condemn his sibling's alleged crimes and never urged him to surrender to the authorities.
And everyone knew that in the name of family loyalty, Bill Bulger had declared coldly that he would rather shield a suspected homicidal psychopath than lift a finger to get him off the streets.
"It's my hope that I'm never helpful to anyone against him," the former Senate president bluntly informed a federal grand jury in 2001. "I don't feel an obligation to help everyone to catch him."
He and his brother had spoken by phone soon after Whitey fled, Bill acknowledged — and he had arranged to take the call at the home of a friend because he assumed his own phone might be tapped. He told the grand jury that he had provided legal advice to the wanted gangster — but he hadn't advised him to surrender, "because I don't think it would be in his interest to do so."
All this has been known about Bill Bulger since that grand jury testimony was leaked in 2002.
Such moral deformity would have been shameful in anyone, but in Bulger's case it was repugnant. For decades he had been a public official; time and again he had raised his right hand to take the oath of office: "I, William Bulger, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and will support the constitution thereof. So help me God." Yet for years his true faith and allegiance had actually been to his monstrous brother. Not to the people of Massachusetts, not to the law, not to Whitey's innumerable victims, not to the truth — and not to God.
The scandal that ensued eventually cost Bulger his job as president of the University of Massachusetts. It befouled any reputation he might have had as a man of honor and integrity. It certainly shattered whatever was left of his family's political brand, already so weakened that when his son entered the race to succeed Bulger in the state Senate, he was crushed in a landslide.
But if Bulger can still walk into the State House and be greeted like a respected elder statesman, something remains profoundly rotten on Beacon Hill. His betrayal of the people who elected and empowered him, his callous disregard for those his brother terrorized, should make him radioactive in respectable political circles. He should have been ashamed to show his face at the service for Cellucci, not "seated up front, applauding with all the rest." The sycophants and politicos who were glad to hobnob with him could stand some serious self-scrutiny. Bill Bulger isn't just another aging pol. The brother he helped protect wasn't a well-meaning rascal. The horrifying testimony coming out of Whitey's trial in South Boston is a reminder of what true savagery is. Bill Bulger vowed he would never help bring his savage brother to justice. Why would anyone want to be seen with him?
Jeff Jacoby can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeff_jacoby.


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National Chairman Of ALEC Responds To Report
The Nation recently published a series of pieces about the relationship that state-based legislators have with a group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a group that brings together state legislators, interest groups and corporate representatives to draft model bills that can then be introduced at the state level of government.
On today's Fresh Air, Louisiana State Rep. Noble Ellington, a Republican from the 20th district and the national chairman of ALEC, responds to The Nation's report.
Interview Highlights
On transparency
"While we may be discussing it, it may not be transparent, but before it's passed, legislators have to say, 'We approve this model legislation. Not the corporations. They don't have a vote. Legislators say [what is introduced]. ... And then the legislators can introduce that legislation in [their] state. It goes through a committee, the public has input, they have an opportunity to talk to their legislators about the legislation — so I don't see how you can get more transparent than that."
Also On Fresh Air Today
On working with corporations
"It's to work with businesses to promote business growth and private-sector growth so that we can stimulate the economy. And [bills] may start out in the corporation and the ALEC members, but then only legislative members approve model legislation — not the private sector advisory board. They don't approve the legislation. ... Only the public sector members have the final say."
On his constituents
"I work for the taxpaying public, so don't assume that they're not [at the table] because they are. And we represent the public and we are the ones who decide. So the taxpaying public is represented there at the table because I'm there."


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Whether your daughter is still a little girl or a grown-up woman, she'll always remain as your girl and will hold a special place in your heart.
It's probably from your daughter that you learned about the sweetness and spice of little girls.
It's also from her that you learned about patience and forgiveness, as she stretched your tolerance with the sulky attitude of a teenage girl.
And still it's from her that you learned that whatever she has chosen to become, you'll still feel proud of her simply because she has the key to your heart forever.
And these beautiful and inspiring quotes about daughters will speak of your love for your girl.
A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.-- Author Unknown
A daughter is a gift of love.-- Author Unknown
A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend.-- Author Unknown
A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. -- Author Unknown
A daughter is a miracle that never ceases to be miraculous...full of beauty and forever beautiful...loving and caring and truly amazing.-- Deanna Beisser
A daughter is a treasure - and a cause of sleeplessness.-- Ben Sirach
A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give.-- Laurel Atherton
A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. -- Author Unknown
A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. -- Author Unknown
A mother's treasure is her daughter. -- Catherine Pulsifer
A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. --Irish Saying
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.-- Joseph Addison
Daughter are angles sent from above to fill our heart with unending love.-- J. Lee
If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.-- Bruce Barton
Mothers and daughters are closest, when daughters become mothers.-- Author Unknown
Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where you backbone ought to be.-- Clementine Paddleford
Oh my son's my son till he gets him a wife, but my daughter's my daughter all her life.-- Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
Our daughters are the most precious of our treasures, the dearest possessions of our homes and the objects of our most watchful love.-- Margaret E. Sangster
To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.-- Euripides
There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.-- John Gregory Brown
What I wanted most for my daughter was that she be able to soar confidently in her own sky, whatever that may be.-- Helen Claes
Do you set goals but rarely reach and keep them? If you just can't get yourself to do what you need to do, if your willpower and persistence always seems to fizzle out, I've found a way to change your minute-by-minute thoughts. Find out more here.
Back to Family Quotes Return from Daughter Quotes to Homepage


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2014 Chevrolet Cruze
TRIM | Original MSRP | 5-Year Cost to Own | Compare |
2014 Chevrolet Cruze Expert Review
Austin Lott
- Great highway fuel economy in diesel or Eco gasoline forms
- Plenty of front-seat headroom
- Fitting in the back seat
- Touchy clutch take-up caused several stalls in testing
- Honda Civic
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Ford Focus
- Mazda3
- Hyundai Elantra
A new 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 helps the Cruze to achieve an EPA-estimated 46 mpg highway. The new model comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, low rolling resistance tires, an aero package, and leather seats. Across the Cruze lineup, also new for 2014 are several exterior colors: Red Hot, Rainforest Green Metallic, Tungsten Metallic, and Blue Ray Metallic.
The Chevrolet Cruze is the automaker's fuel-sipping compact sedan, slotting below the midsize Malibu and above the Spark and Sonic subcompacts. The Cruze offers a choice of three powertrains, while providing top-tier safety features including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems.
The Chevrolet Cruze is offered with two gasoline engines, and a new-for-2014 diesel option. Each trim except the LTZ gets a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, while the LTZ is automatic-only. The LS models are powered by the base 1.8-liter I-4, which makes 138 hp, 125 lb-ft of torque and is EPA-rated at 22-25/35-36 mpg city/highway, depending on transmission choice. The LT, LTZ, and Eco models all get the turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4 which also makes 138 hp, but with 148 lb-ft of torque, coming in lower on the power band. Standard (non-Eco) 2014 Cruzes net an EPA estimated 26/38 mpg, while the Eco fuel-saving treatment bumps the EPA estimate to 26-28/38-42 mpg, with the best highway mileage via the six-speed manual. Blowing the miserly six-speed gas sipper out of the water is the brand new turbo 2.0-liter clean diesel, which makes 151 hp, 264 lb-ft of torque and gets a class leading 27/46 mpg, notably only available with the six-speed automatic. The turbodiesel also features an overboost setting, which increases torque to 280 lb-ft for 10 seconds.
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze has a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA (out of a possible five stars), and while it's considered a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS for 2013, the car only earned a rating of marginal (good is the highest possible score) in the small overlap front category and did not meet the tougher criteria to be a 2014 Top Safety Pick. The Cruze is the first in its segment to provide 10 standard airbags, and has an available Enhanced Safety Package which includes crash-avoidance technologies including a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert system, and rear park assist.
The Cruze Eco and the 2.0-liter turbodiesel both performed well in two comparisons in which fuel economy was key. When compared against other compact hybrids and the Jetta Diesel (the Cruze's only competitor in the compact diesel segment) we concluded, "Live next to the freeway? Only ever drive on the freeway? Never have to use the back seat? This is your car." Likewise, when the gasoline-sipping Cruze Eco lined up against the Honda Civic HF, Ford Focus SFE, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the Chevrolet placed second, beating the Mazda3 in mileage numbers, but being docked for issues with its driving experience.
Key Competitors
VW Jetta TDI finally has real competition.
2014 Chevrolet Cruze Specifications
Engine Name | 4-Cyl 1.8 Liter Ecotec |
Trim | LS (Manual) Sedan |
Horsepower | 138@6,300 |
Torque | 125@3,800 |
Number Of Cylinders | 4 |
Front Headroom | 39.3 in |
Rear Headroom | 37.9 in |
Front Legroom | 42.3 in |
Rear Legroom | 35.4 in |
Front Shoulder Room | 54.8 in |


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The dspec system is the machinery underlying the way definitions are named in LispWorks. It supports program development by tracking the locations of definitions, and is also used in tracing and advising functions.
This chapter explains the concepts underlying dspecs and their use in tracking locations of definitions. For full details of the programming interface, see the
chapter in the
LispWorks Reference Manual


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Presenting Document to Video:
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MADRID – Spain's Interior Ministry says police have arrested 17 people on suspicion of smuggling Nigerian women into Spain and forcing them into prostitution using threats including claims they would cast Voodoo spells on them if they didn't comply.
An investigation began when police detected in January that around 10 women had been brought into the country illegally using a small boat.
Police said that following an investigation its raids seized computer equipment, mobile phones, false identity and work permit documents, as well as objects which detectives said were allegedly used in "Voodoo rituals."
Officers tracked down the suspected pimps in cities throughout Spain and arrested 16 Nigerian nationals and one Ugandan citizen, a statement released Sunday said. It was not clear when the arrests took place.


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(CNN) -- An Indiana mother who sent her gay son to school with a stun gun after administrators apparently didn't do enough to stop the bullying against him said she would do it again -- even though the teen now faces expulsion.
"I do not promote violence -- not at all -- but what is a parent to do when she has done everything that she felt she was supposed to do ... at the school?" the mother, Chelisa Grimes, told CNN's Don Lemon on Sunday. "I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child."
The school district held an expulsion hearing last week but no decision has been announced.
Grimes sent her son, Darnell "Dynasty" Young, to Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis with the stun gun after he said he was taunted and bullied for months.
"I brought the stun gun 'cause I wasn't safe," the 17 year old said.
After six other students surrounded him at school, calling him names and threatening to beat him up, Young pulled out the stun gun from his backpack. He raised it in the air, setting off an electric charge, and sending the group scurrying.
Unlike a Taser, which fire barbs attached to long wires at a target, a stun gun has to be near or pressed against a person to shock them.
"I got kicked out of school for me bringing the weapon to school, but I honestly don't think that that was fair," Young said. "I didn't use it on nobody ... all I did was raise it up in the air and went back to my class."
School police officers arrested him a short time later and took him away in handcuffs, The Indianapolis Star reported. School officials are investigating the incident, but none of the students who allegedly surrounded Young have been positively identified.
Young is known as a flamboyant dresser and Larry Yarrell, the Tech principal, said school staff had been trying to get him to "tone down" his accessories.
"If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they're going to say whatever it is that they want to say," Yarrell told The Star. "Because you want to be different and because you choose to wear female apparel, it may happen. In the idealistic society, it shouldn't matter. People should be able to wear what they want to wear."
Grimes contends that school officials haven't done enough to protect all students on campus.
"I think that the self-protection device is what's making the news, but the big picture is that my child is not the only one who does not feel safe at our school," she said.
It a common complaint among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.
A 2009 survey of 7,261 middle and high school students found that nearly nine out of 10 LGBT students had experienced harassment at school over the previous year and nearly two-thirds felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation.
Young said rumors around campus suggested he was "doing nasty stuff" with teachers. The rumors took their toll.
"I was at my wit's end. I didn't know what to do and I thought about suicide," Young said. "I hate saying that word because God blessed me with this life. I love life. I love my education. I would never ... but this bullying got so bad that I thought about that."
™ & © 2012 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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In the unforgiving Arizona summer heat, it is all about sweating pretty. Grace Koval, member of the Scottsdale 16, a part of Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations, shared some of her summer beauty secrets, tips and techniques to beat the summer heat. The Scottsdale 16 is a group of young, beautiful women in Arizona who are booked for a variety of events across the Valley, including corporate parties, special events and modeling for promotional or runway shows. Koval is no stranger to the importance of always looking good regardless of the scorching temperatures.
Your skin is your first impression and keeping it looking good during the summer months, which puts extra stress on your skin, is a must. It almost seems too simple but staying hydrated in the summer can go a long way when it comes skin beauty.
"I noticed a huge difference in my skin with acne, spots and just overall complexion with just water alone," said Koval.
To keep her looking its best at all times in the summer Koval applies Clinique's Moisture Surge Overnight Mask a few times a week to replenish the hydration her skin loses.
It may seem cliché, but Koval named sunscreen her essential summer beauty product.
"Even with olive skin, I apply sunscreen when going to the pool because I want my skin to look great even when I'm much older," stated Koval.
She recommends L'Oreal's Sublime Sun SPF 50, which goes on clear and makes you skin glow all day. Another way to get that must needed SPF is with moisturizer that included SPF in it; Koval uses Aveeno Positively Radiant every morning and night to get that added hydration and softness.
It also is "very crucial to have a chap stick around you at all times," said Koval.
Summer beauty is all about having that sun kissed skin but, as easy as it can be to tan in an Arizona summer, it can be just easy to lose it.
"It's very basic, if you want to keep your tan you have to moisturize your skin," Koval said.
With tanning and being out in the sun skin damage is something you always have to lookout for. Koval recommends Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, a prescription-strength serum, to improve sun dark spots.
"I am on my second bottle," she added.
Even with radiant healthy skin, looking your best is not easy in the heat because makeup can melt right off your face. To make sweating look good and keep long lasting makeup Koval applies Dior Glow Maximizer light boosting primer. Koval is a huge promoter of primer: "You can wear it alone, under foundation or even mix it with a CC cream for an all-day glow."
Summer makeup is all about keeping it light for Koval.
"I try not to have my makeup to heavy in the summer, so a great lip is a must," she said.
She is loving BITE's high pigment pencil in rhubarb, it's moisturizing, goes on light, and leaves a great natural looking lip. Summer beauty is about keeping everything looking good in the heat and sun by talking care of your skin and using products like primer, sweating this summer has never look better.
Want to know more about Grace? Read our interview!


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Gallery | The Mall | Member Directory | MHA News | Bookstore | Library | Links | Lopez Labs |
with John Gulland
See also:
Monoxide Case Studies
Outside Air Seminar with John
The Problem with
Outdoor Air Supplies (John Gulland has done a full feature on this on the
wood-heat.com website)
Seminar on House Depressuriation and Fireplace Flow Reversal
with Norbert Senf and Bob Lapo
Fireplace Air Requirements, CMHC
Air Requirements
and Related Parameters for Masonry Heating Systems, by Norbert Senf
Consulting Report on Fireplace
Makeup Air, by Norbert Senf
R-2000 Makeup Air Guidelines
The following e-mail exchange summarizes some of the current science and
the current Canadian building code status of outside combustion air. ----original message--------------------- From: John Viner <firstname.lastname@example.com> Norbert On page 4 you made reference to a study in 1989 that stated all fireplaces would spill, during diedown, roughly at 10 pascals. I am curious what fireplaces were tested. So called gasketed air tight doors? Machined fit doors? I am also curious, is there not a thing as a truely air tight firebox? The -----------message separator------------------------- From: Norbert Senf Hello John: Commercially available doors at the time (1989) The airtightness of the firebox is determined by the tightness of the loading doors,
plus any other similar hardware in the system such as cleanouts, dampers, etc. Also, with
metal chimneys there are the joints between the chimney sections. -----------message separator--------------------------------- Reply from John Gulland, who is one of the recognized authorities in this area: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Norbert, John, Security BIS (gasketed doors, advanced combustion, outdoor air to circulation chamber) RSF Opel (gasketed doors, advanced combustion, outdoor air direct to firebox) Oliver-McLeod (builder's box with bi-fold doors, outdoor air to circulation chamber) Oliver-McLeod (same unit modified to supply outdoor air to firebox) Pressurizer (gasketed door, fan powered outdoor air/circulation air, The fireplaces ranged from loose (Oliver-McLeod) to extremely tight (Opel). These differences made no difference in spillage performance: all five were fine at -5Pa and all spilled during diedown at -10Pa. > >I am also curious, is there not a thing as a truely air tight John, you seem to be asking about the way fireplaces behave in a depressurized environment. Norbert has given a good answer. In short, for batch fed woodburning equipment, tightness only makes a difference in spillage volume, not spillage susceptibility -- there is no such thing as a hermetically sealed woodburning device. Following is an explanation of how Canadian code authorities responded to the new information about outdoor combustion air supplies and natural draft combustion in tight construction. The 1990 National Building Code (NBC) of Canada had mandatory requirements for outdoor air supplies for fireplaces, but, when the findings of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) research on outdoor air supplies were tabled during the revision cycle leading to the 1995 edition, the requirements were removed. Here is some background on the evolution of outdoor air supplies in the NBC: The 1990 NBC contained the following Article (clause): "188.8.131.52 Combustion Air. Fireplaces, including factory-built fireplaces, shall have a supply of combustion air. (See Appendix A)" Appendix A-18.104.22.168. read in part: "The intent of this Article is to allow the fireplace to be operated without affecting, or being affected by, other appliances or exhaust equipment. For this to occur, the fireplace must be provided with a supply of combustion air dedicated to the fireplace only; an opening to the exterior should be provided at or near the fireplace opening." The Article went on to require outdoor air for factory-built fireplaces in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and gave a series of prescriptive requirements for outdoor air supplies for site-built masonry fireplaces. In the proposed revisions sent out for public comment in August 1993, it was proposed to delete Appendix note A-220.127.116.11. with the following reason given: "Combustion air supplies as currently prescribed are generally ineffective. The requirement to provide combustion air is being deleted from CAN/CSA A-405, Design and Construction of Masonry Chimneys and Fireplaces and from the Code." The '95 NBC contains the following: "184.108.40.206. Combustion Air. Where a supply of combustion air is provided directly to the fire chamber of a fireplace, including a factory-built fireplace, the installation shall comply with the "Outdoor Air Supply" requirements provided by CAN/CSA A-405, Design and Construction of Masonry Chimneys and Fireplaces." This is the only reference to combustion air for fireplaces. The supply of outdoor air was made non-mandatory and this wording was included because the CMHC research that showed outdoor air supplies to be ineffective, also showed that direct-to-combustion chamber supplies could be hazardous because of the potential for wind-induced reverse flow of combustion gases through the supply duct. The A-405 requirements proposed ways to provide outdoor air safely if you choose to supply it. Like most building codes in North America, the NBC had included outdoor combustion air requirements for combustion equipment on the assumption that it was a good strategy to reduce spillage susceptibility. Unfortunately the assumption was acted upon before any research had been done to explore how outdoor air supplies actually behave. The research reports that influenced the Standing Committee of Part 9 of the NBC are: 1) Fireplace Air Requirements, ORTECH for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1989 2) The Effects of Glass Doors on Masonry Fireplace Spillage and Surface Temperatures, Dennis Jaasma, Virginia Polytechnic Institute for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1994 They are available from the CMHC information centre at (613) 748-2367. Although the two studies were conducted by two labs with different set-ups, different protocols and different appliance types (1. factory-built, 2. masonry), they arrived at the same conclusion: The susceptibility to combustion spillage due to room depressurization is not affected in a predictable way by the presence or absence of air supplied from outdoors, whether supplied to the combustion chamber or indirectly through a supply duct terminating near the fireplace. In both studies the reference room depressurization at which spillage was induced was 10 Pa. In 'Fireplace Air Requirements', none of the five tested fireplaces spilled at 5 Pa depressurization despite the fact that all were very different in their configurations and features, although all did have glass doors. The tests at the two depressurization levels were done with and without outdoor combustion air supplies. Once the research findings were in and analyzed, the underlying physical process became clear: That is, air flows to a zone of lower pressure through any available opening, regardless of our wishful thinking. In retrospect, this principle appears rather obvious, although for most of us it was not, until revealed in the lab. As a result of the findings of these two studies, and against the backdrop of dozens of other CMHC studies of combustion venting and building aerodynamics, it was recognized that managing the indoor pressure environment was the only viable option for preventing health- and life-threatening combustion spillage from chimney-vented atmospheric appliances. This is particularly the case with automatic oil and gas equipment of this type because they have dilution devices downstream of the combustion chamber: barometric draft controls in the case of oil appliances and draft hoods in the case of gas appliances. Dilution air cools the exhaust, weakens draft and offers a ready path for combustion spillage, roughly equal to the spillage susceptibility of open fireplaces. Automatic operation of gas and oil systems takes place independently of householder knowledge and participation and may continue for long periods undetected and that is why this type of spillage is considered potentially life-threatening. But it was also recognized that hand-fed controlled combustion woodburning equipment do
not use dilution devices and have high spillage resistance during most operational periods
except for the tail out of the coalbed phase of the fire as system temperatures
cool. This type of spillage cannot continue for long without householder
intervention (reloading), and this implies awareness of any malfunction. Therefore, the '95 NBC at 22.214.171.124. Protection Against Depressurization requires make up air for exhausts exceeding 150 cfm where chimney vented oil and gas systems are installed in the building. Where the only spillage-susceptible equipment present is woodburning, the section requires only the installation of a carbon monoxide detector to provide warning of spillage should it occur. A performance alternative to the prescriptive approach of 184.108.40.206. is offered in the form of a reference to the CSA ventilation code F326. Hope this is useful. Let me know if you have any questions. Regards, See also: |
This page last updated on
December 30, 2007
This page created on July 12, 2000
Gallery | The Mall | Member Directory | MHA News | Bookstore | Library | Links | Lopez Labs |


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Graham, VCU beat Dayton; win 10th straight
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Treveon Graham scored 24 points and Virginia Commonwealth defeated turnover-prone Dayton 74-62 Wednesday night to post its 10th straight win in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams.
The Rams (13-3) never trailed and scored 30 points off 26 turnovers by the Flyers (10-5). Briante Weber had nine of VCU's 15 steals.
Dayton got within a point on two occasions, the last time at 49-48 with 14:51 left, but the Rams pulled away with a 7-0 run capped by Troy Daniels' 3-pointer.
Graham, who scored 15 points in the first half, was 10 of 10 from the free-throw line while the rest of his teammates combined to make 9 of 11 foul shots.
Juvonte Reddic added 14 points with nine rebounds and Daniels scored 12 points for the Rams.
Kevin Dillard led Dayton with 17 points and Devin Oliver had 11 rebounds as the Flyers dominated the glass 39-27.


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Priests attacked at Phoenix church, 1 dies
By BRIAN SKOLOFF and EMAUN KASHFI
PHOENIX (AP) -- A priest was shot and killed and another was injured at a Roman Catholic church in downtown Phoenix, setting off an intense search for suspects and clues into what police called a "tragic and appalling" attack.
The surviving priest called 911 to report a burglary at the Mother of Mercy Mission near the state Capitol around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and administered last rites to the wounded clergyman while waiting for police to arrive. The Rev. Kenneth Walker died at the hospital, and the Rev. Joseph Terra, 56, is hospitalized in critical condition with unspecified injuries.
Police have no suspects at this point. They are searching the neighborhood, interviewing the injured priest and examining physical evidence from the scene. Investigators said they are unsure how many attackers were involved and if robbery was the motive.
Police Chief Daniel Garcia called it a "tragic and appalling criminal violation."
As police investigated the crime scene at the church, about a dozen parishioners gathered across the street, kneeling on the sidewalk and saying the Lord's Prayer in response to the loss of their beloved clergyman. A bouquet of flowers and a photograph of the dead priest lay on the sidewalk.
Parishioner Diane sobbed as she spoke of Walker and Terra and the "senseless acts of cruelty" that were carried out.
"They will be truly missed in this parish. Very peaceful people, very peaceful men, loving, kind and charitable," Harmon said.
"They are truly concerned about the sanctity of souls, and saving souls," she added. "It's hard to imagine, but that's unfortunately the society we're living in, a godless society. It's lawless."
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said the city was shocked and saddened as police pleaded for the public's help in identifying the suspects.
"The tragedy that occurred last night at the Mother of Mercy Mission church strikes at our core because every American should feel safe in a house of worship - and that basic value was violated last night in an unspeakable way," Stanton said.
Terra and Walker, 28, served as pastor and assistant pastor, respectively, and they both lived in the church, which is located along a gritty stretch of downtown Phoenix. The Rev. Fred Adamson, vicar general of the Phoenix Archdiocese, said both men believed the church "was a safe place to live."
"Father Terra is a pretty strong man. He's not afraid of anybody," Adamson said.
They both belonged to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, and one of its hallmarks is leading Mass in Latin for worshippers.
Police found an abandoned car they were seeking in connection with the attack about four blocks from the church, Sgt. Steve Martos said.
Rorate Caeli, an online blog widely read in Vatican circles, said Walker was born in upstate New York near Poughkeepsie. He was the middle child among a family of 11 children. He was ordained in May 2012.


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NOBULL: Chemicals in poultry plants raising health concerns — Navarro was dead. The 37-year-old's lungs had b led out.
Originally published Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Chemicals in poultry plants raising health concerns
U.S. Agriculture Department health inspectors say poultry-processing plants are increasingly turning to toxic, bacteria-killing chemicals to remove contaminants that escape notice as processing-line speeds have accelerated.
By Kimberly Kindy
The Washington Post
The death of USDA poultry inspector Jose Navarro, seen with his children, spurred concerns over chemicals in poultry plants.
When Jose Navarro landed a job as a federal poultry inspector in 2006, he moved his wife and newborn son to South Fallsburg, in upstate New York near the processing plant, believing it was a steppingstone to a better life.Five years later, Navarro was dead. The 37-year-old's lungs had bled out.
His death triggered a federal investigation that raised questions about the health risks associated with a rise in the use of toxic, bacteria-killing chemicals in poultry plants.
Agriculture Department health inspectors say processing plants are turning to the chemicals to remove contaminants that escape notice as processing-line speeds have accelerated, in part to meet growing consumer demand for chicken and turkey.
The department is poised to allow a further increase in line speeds, boosting the maximum speed by about 25 percent. This change is part of new regulations that officials say would make poultry production more efficient and transfer more responsibility for inspections to industry.
Under the new rules, which could be finalized this summer, the number of chemical treatments used on birds is also likely to increase, according to agency documents and USDA inspectors. It is unclear whether the new rules would affect processing of organic poultry.
To keep speeds up, the new regulations would allow visibly contaminated birds to remain on the lines — rather than being discarded or removed for offline cleaning, as is common practice. The proposed rules say "all carcasses" on the line would be treated with antimicrobial chemicals "whether they are contaminated or not."
In interviews, more than two dozen USDA inspectors and poultry-industry employees described a range of ailments they attributed to chemical exposure, including asthma and other severe respiratory problems, burns, rashes, irritated eyes, sinus ulcers and other sinus problems.
Amanda Hitt, director of the Food Integrity Campaign with the Government Accountability Project, said her group has been collecting statements for the past two years from inspectors reporting illnesses and injuries due to chemical exposure in poultry plants where slaughter-line speeds have already increased.
"They are mixing chemicals together in these plants, and it's making people sick," said Hitt. "Does it work better at killing off pathogens? Yes, but it also can send someone into respiratory arrest."
Research lacking
While federal officials say the enhanced use of chemicals can promote public health by fighting such contaminants as salmonella, government agencies have not conducted independent research into the chemicals' possible side effects on consumers. Instead, they review data provided by chemical manufacturers.Nor has the USDA studied the effects of the chemicals on its inspectors or on industry employees. USDA officials said research into worker safety is a job for other agencies. But no industrywide study has been done by the government, and it does not keep a comprehensive record of illnesses possibly caused by the use of chemicals in the poultry industry.
Inspections by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at poultry plants show that at least five facilities had problems with chemicals during the past three years, according to agency documents. The most common citations were for failing to properly label hazardous chemicals, failing to train employees on how to handle the chemicals and a failure to have monitoring equipment that would detect when chemicals, such as ammonia, reach toxic levels.
At Murray's Chicken, the poultry plant where Navarro worked, company officials rejected that chemicals killed him.
During the investigation at the plant, inspectors and plant workers offered a raft of complaints. They said they suffered from irritation to their respiratory system, two reported "coughing up blood," and others had "various skin diseases," an OSHA report said.
The OSHA report cited chemicals as the suspected cause of the workers' ailments.
At the time of Navarro's death, Murray's Chicken was using chlorine and peracetic acid to treat the birds, according to federal records and interviews with company officials.
Several months before he died, Navarro coughed up blood, but it "self-resolved," according to the autopsy report. Then on Nov. 19, 2011, he began coughing up blood and went to the hospital, where his lungs continued to hemorrhage. He died a week later after his lungs and kidneys failed, the autopsy report said.
Chlorine and peracetic acid are two of the most commonly used chemicals in plants, according to OSHA inspection documents and interviews with USDA inspectors and poultry plant workers.
More exposure
At plants where line speeds have been increased, inspectors and plant workers say chemical use is on the rise and the exposure time to the chemicals has also been extended. Sometimes a third chemical is added, but that practice varies from plant to plant.Chlorine and peracetic acid are toxic, according to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provided by chemical manufacturers to the plants, which in turn are required to post them.
For chlorine, the data sheets say exposure can cause lung damage, emotional disturbances and death. Peracetic acid can damage most internal organs, including the heart, lungs and liver, the data sheets show. If the chemical is inhaled, it can cause "severe respiratory and mucous membrane irritation and possible chemical burns." It can also cause "acute lung damage."
During the investigation that followed Navarro's death, an OSHA inspector said, "the combination of disinfectants and other chemicals" in addition to pathogens such as salmonella "could be causing significant health problems for processing-plant occupants," OSHA documents show.
OSHA issued four citations. Two were for "serious" violations, which included failing to provide inspectors with training about hazardous chemicals and failing to record inspector injuries in a federally mandated log.
Murray's Chicken Chief Executive Dean Koplik said in an interview that the company is contesting the citations, and that OSHA did not find any problems with chemical levels and exposure at the time of the agency's visit. He also dismissed OSHA's findings that other workers suffered from respiratory problems, saying the agency "made some vague allegation about respiratory issues, but it never provided details. It's upstate New York, and it was in the winter. People get respiratory issues."
There is no conclusive evidence as to whether the chemicals killed Navarro.
If the Obama administration signs off on the USDA's proposed regulations as expected, poultry plants could speed up slaughter lines this year. The maximum speed for chickens would increase from 140 birds a minute to 175 birds a minute, for turkeys 45 to 55 a minute. Workers, who already often complain of carpal tunnel and other musculoskeletal disorders, will have to pluck, chop and sort birds even faster.
At the same time, the new regulations would reduce the number of federal health inspectors in the plants by up to 40 percent.
The new regulations hold financial incentives for both the USDA and the industry: The agency expects to save $90 million during the next three years from the staff reductions, and poultry plants could save more than $200 million annually.
The combination of faster processing and fewer government eyeballs means that companies will increasingly rely on chemicals to keep the poultry free of contaminants, according to interviews with six current and former USDA inspectors who have worked in plants where slaughter line speeds have accelerated.
"They don't talk about it publicly, but the line speeds are so fast, they are not spotting contamination, like fecal matter, as the birds pass by," said Phyllis McKelvey, who worked as a USDA poultry inspector for 14 years until she retired in 2010. "Their attitude is, let the chemicals do the work."
In plants where line speeds have already increased, more chemical treatments have been added. Plants that used one or two rinses, sprays or soaks now use as many as four.
While procedures vary among plants, in a typical scenario, high-powered nozzles first shoot water and chemicals into the interior of a bird and along its surface. Next, the bird moves through one or two spray cabinets, where it is showered with other chemicals. Finally, it is chilled and soaked, usually in chlorine and water.
"They are using the chemicals as a stopgap measure," said Tony Corbo, a lobbyist for Food & Water Watch, a consumer-advocacy group.
Ashley Peterson, the National Chicken Council's vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, said the volume of chemicals would increase under the new rules.
But she said this would be done safely. Peterson said that processing plants will use only USDA-approved chemicals, that the chemicals are "diluted significantly" and that plants are already taking steps to minimize workers' exposure to them, such as enclosing chemical-spray stations and improving ventilation.
The 49-page proposed regulation allows for the use of additional chemical treatments with the new inspection system. For example, plants will be allowed to use chemicals on "air chilled" birds that traditionally relied only on low temperatures to kill and prevent the spread of pathogens. The proposed rule also encourages plants to use chemicals along the processing line, not just at the end.
The USDA has not conducted research into possible health risks that chemical treatments could pose for consumers of the poultry products but instead says it relies on the chemical review and approval process of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA, for its part, does not conduct its own research but examines data provided by the chemical manufacturers.
Elizabeth Hagen, the USDA's undersecretary for food safety and inspection service, said she could not comment on how the use of chemicals under the new system would affect pathogens. But she said the program would modernize inspections, for instance by positioning inspectors more strategically, and save the lives of as many as 5,000 consumers.
After the interview, the USDA provided a statement saying, "We have no reason to believe chemical usage would increase under this proposed new inspection system, if implemented."


text: ADL Criticizes "Inappropriate" Holocaust References From Conservative Media During Gun Debate Special Programs Guns & Public Safety Written by Oliver Willis Published 01/24/13 5:01 PM EST The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued a press release expressing concern over the "inappropriate invocations of Hitler, Nazis, and general Holocaust imagery" in debates about gun violence after the Sandy Hook shooting. In a related blog post, the ADL wrote: "These comparisons, made by political pundits on national news programs as well by others outside politics, are not only misplaced and offensive, relying on factually incorrect premises and exaggerations, but also deflect attention away from an important national discussion." Some of their examples of this type of imagery include: The Drudge Report, under the headline "White House Threatens 'Executive Orders' on Guns," featured photos of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin (Jan. 9). Former Major League pitcher John Rocker wrote on WorldNetDaily.com about what he described as "...the undeniable fact that the Holocaust would never have taken place had the Jewish citizenry of Hitler's Germany had the right to bear arms and defend themselves with those arms" (Jan. 15). During an interview on the Fox News Channel, Lars Larson suggested that, "...if the president does it that way, everybody in America will be required to go in and give fingerprints.... It will be 'your papers, please' like Nazi Germany" (Jan. 9). The group spotlighted conservative media figures arguing that the Holocaust could have been averted if Jewish people in Germany had better access to firearms, and explained that "Gun control did not cause the Holocaust; Nazism and anti-Semitism did." In addition to the instances highlighted by the ADL, Media Matters has documented additional instances of conservative media making references to Nazis and other totalitarians in the midst of discussions about gun violence.


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EPA issues new rule on greenhouse gas emissions: Where does that leave coal?
The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed the nation's first-ever restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from US power plants. If approved, the restrictions are expected to sharply curb construction of new coal-fired power plants nationwide.
The proposed restrictions, unveiled by officials at the Environmental Protection Agency, would apply only to new fossil-fuel-burning power plants – limiting them to no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt generated.
A typical coal-fired plant produces more than 1,700 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt. Most natural-gas fired plants – the majority of power plants under construction today – emit less than the new standard, around 800 pounds per megawatt.
The proposed restrictions were hailed by environmentalists but criticized by the coal industry as leading to higher electricity prices.
EPA officials stressed that the agency was abiding by a US Supreme Court mandate – and said the new rule should not be onerous because it follows industry trends toward cleaner power plants. The agency will soon open the rule to public comment, including public hearings, with an expected final rule late this year.
"Today we're taking a common-sense step to reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American energy," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. "We're putting in place a standard that relies on the use of clean, American-made technology to tackle a challenge that we can't leave to our kids and grandkids."
At present, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon emissions that new power plants can emit. The EPA noted in a fact sheet that the agency was compelled by a landmark 2007 Supreme Court ruling "to determine if [the emissions] threaten public health and welfare." In December 2009, the agency formally declared that greenhouse gases "endanger the public health and welfare of current and future generations."
Environmental groups praised the EPA's announcement.
"EPA deserves a standing ovation for today's historic action to protect Americans' health, strengthen our economy, and address the clear and present danger of carbon pollution," Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund said in a statement. "The bottom line for our nation is that cleaner power will cut harmful carbon pollution, protect our children from dangerous smog and other serious climate impacts, and help secure a safe and prosperous future."
Ms. Jackson stressed that what EPA is doing is in keeping with existing trends. Several states, including Washington, Oregon and California, already limit greenhouse gas emissions, while Montana and Illinois currently require new coal plants to capture and store their emissions, EPA noted.
Meanwhile, next-generation power plants that burn coal more cleanly should be able to meet the proposed standard without add-on controls, the EPA maintained.
Scores of old, inefficient coal-fired power plants were already expected to close as a result of other air pollution regulations – with gas fired plants popping up in their place. According to industry experts, if coal loses out in utilities' decisions on what to build, it would be because the economics of burning gas are simply better than burning coal.
"Gas is contributing to the closure of these [coal-fired] plants," Dominion Resources chief executive Thomas F. Farrell II told the Washington Post. Mr. Farrell, who also chairs the Edison Electric Institute, the utility trade association, added: "It's not all EPA. It's a combination of low gas prices and EPA working at the same time."
Coal-industry spokesmen and some lawmakers on Capitol Hill declared the move an economic disaster in the making that is certain to increase electricity rates nationwide.
"EPA's proposal for controlling greenhouse gas emissions from about half the nation's electric power supply is a poorly disguised cap-and-tax scheme that represents energy and economic policy at its worst," Hal Quinn, president of the National Mining Association said in a statement. "Higher utility bills and fewer jobs are the only certain outcomes from this reckless attempt to override Congress's repeated refusal to enact punitive caps on carbon dioxide emissions."
Today, coal-fired power plants produce about 40 percent of the nation's electricity – and an equal portion of its greenhouse gas emissions. New coal-fired plants can meet the requirement by burying the carbon dioxide emissions and through other technologies, EPA says.
The rule "creates a path forward for new technologies to be deployed at future facilities that would allow companies to burn coal, while emitting less carbon pollution," an EPA fact sheet said. New power plants designed to use coal or petroleum coke would be able to "incorporate technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to meet the standard, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS)."
Still, some lawmakers were quick to condemn the EPA move and promised to try to reverse it.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R) of Oklahoma was reported to be seeking a Congressional Review Act vote to halt the rule. Sen. John Barrasso (R) of Wyoming said "the Obama Administration just took another step to fulfill the president's plan to make electricity 'skyrocket' and 'bankrupt' America's coal industry."
But Rep. Henry Waxman (D) of California, who led the fight in the House to pass cap-and-trade legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions – only to see that bill die in the Senate – declared the EPA's proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants "a breakthrough."
"It sets achievable limits on dangerous carbon pollution, spurs investments in new clean energy technologies, and provides certainty for industry," Congressman Waxman said in a statement. "It shows the president is listening to scientists, not extremists who deny the existence of climate change. Today's action will reduce pollution, make families healthier, promote innovation, and help us compete with China and other countries that are investing in clean energy."


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Google Shopping Feed, Cost, and PPC Best Practices
The author's views are entirely their own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz.
Google Shopping is an online shopping campaign which can really give merchants a headache. Here are some best practices and ways to ease that headache.
When listing on Google Shopping you should keep in mind three major elements of the Google campaign: Your product data, or your Google Shopping data feed; How much you are spending on Google; and what your PPC is on Google Shopping.
For Google to list your Product Listing Ads on Google Shopping, Google needs your product information, and the way you communicate that to Google Shopping is with the Google Shopping product data feed.
What is a Google Shopping Data Feed?
Your Google Product Listing Ads (PLA) product data feed at its simplest is a detailed spreadsheet. This file has all of your products information: everything you sell and all of the product information specific to those products (eg. size, color, URL).
In other words, the Google Shopping data feed contains your product data. It's a Google Shopping data feed because you must regularly feed it to Google in order to update your product data whenever you change a product name, price, category, image, URL or stock availability.
*Note: Although you manage Google Shopping through the Google AdWords login, the Google Shopping feed should be sent to the Google Merchant Center.
How Do I Optimize My Google Shopping Data Feed?
Google determines which Product Listing Ads appear in a search depending on Google Shopping Cost Per Click (CPC) bids and product information from the Google Shopping product data feed. Google matches these merchant inputs as best it can with a consumer's search terms.
Because of this, your Google Shopping data feed should focus on providing Google Shopping and consumers relevant product data. You can do this by having product titles and product descriptions in the Google Shopping feed which have the information shoppers are looking for.
Google Shopping Feed Product Titles and Descriptions
When you're creating product descriptions and product titles keep in mind what shoppers are searching (e.g. brand, size, MPN, UPC, product title, category title (i.e. 'baby strollers') etc.), you will want to do some research here and or get some SEO advice.
Here are a few articles to get you started with SEO, and help you understand why keywords and titles are so important in your Google Shopping data feed and beyond:
- What are Title Tags and how do they impact SEO?
- What are On- Page Factors and how do they impact SEO?
- How Do I Build The Perfectly Optimized Page?
Once you've determined the terms you want to include in your product titles and descriptions in the Google Shopping data feed, you need to organize the order of keywords in those titles and descriptions.
Although this has not been officially confirmed, we've found that Google seems to count data feed product titles and descriptions from left to right in terms of importance. Product information at the beginning of titles and descriptions in your Google Shopping data feed counts for more than shopping feed data following those initial terms, farther to the right.
When you are creating Google Shopping product data, try to put more important product descriptors at the front (to the left), and those which are searched less to the right. Google Shopping Cost Google determines which shopping feed ads to display based on the data in the merchant's Google Shopping data feed in addition to the amount a merchant bids on AdWords.
How Much Does Google Shopping Cost?
Google does not have a minimum bid or a minimum cost for Google Shopping / Product Listing Ads. You can choose a cost per click as low as $0.01, and there is no minimum daily budget, so you have a lot of flexibility with how much you spend on Google Shopping.
Google Shopping can cost you $1 a day, $1 a month, or more than $100 a day, depending on how much visibility you want your products to have. In Q4, we conducted a Google Shopping study which shows merchant costs on Google Shopping averaged at $11.30 in spend for every $100.00 in sales. Compared to other marketing channels, Google Shopping costs were extremely low, even lower than the flat fees on most Amazon Marketplace categories. Google Shopping, if managed correctly, should yield similar Google Shopping cost / revenue ratios, depending on your average order value, price compared to your competitors, and site-wide conversion rates.
You can dictate how much Google Shopping costs by increasing or decreasing your daily budget and your PPC bids. Keep in mind that if your costs on Google Shopping are low, you also will have low Google Shopping ad visibility.
Additionally, it's important to know that Google will stop serving your ads once your Google Shopping daily budget is reached. So if you have a $20 max daily cost on Google Shopping, your Google Shopping ads will show up until that $20 is reached. If you have a high Google Shopping average CPC cost with a low Google Shopping cost, your ads will only appear for a fraction of the day as you will run out of spend more quickly.
The amount of products you have also plays a big role on how much your Google Shopping campaign will cost. If you have 100,000 products at a cost of 30 cents per click, you will spend a lot more than a merchant with 100 products at the same cost per click. Google determines which ads to display on Google Shopping based on how the keywords in your data feed match a consumer's search, in addition to the CPC bids you set up in your Google Shopping PPC campaign.
How to Set Your Google Shopping PPC
To be competitive on Google Shopping, you ideally want to be among the top five ads for a Google Shopping result page.
Realistically your Google Shopping PPC campaign may not be able to afford to rank high on Google Shopping depending on what the average Google Shopping CPC is for your category, and how much you are comfortable spending on Google Shopping.
Other merchants on Google Shopping will be changing their PPC campaign and how much they are spending weekly (if not daily), so you should keep an eye on your average position for your Google Shopping Ads, and how much you are spending on Google shopping.
Google Shopping Data Feed, Cost, and PPC Best Practices Review
The Google Shopping Data Feed:
- Optimize Google Shopping feed product information based on Google's algorithm and shopping intent.
Google Shopping Costs
- Choose a daily budget which fits your goals and how much you can spend on Google Shopping, but also keeps in mind how much visibility you want. Google Shopping costs to revenue ratios in Q4 were better than all other shopping feed marketing channels. Prepare to monitor your budget and costs on your Google Shopping campaign, especially in the first few weeks.
Google Shopping PPC
- When setting PPC amounts for your Google Shopping Ad Groups, consider how high you want to rank on Google Shopping pages, and how long you want to be serving Ads on Google throughout the day.
Google Shopping is a big deal. Realistically you're stretched for time and resources, but taking a look at your Google Shopping campaign will be more than worth the investment. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.


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(After this piece was posted, it was revealed that due to injury, Brian Foster was forced to withdraw from his UFC 129 bout against Sean Pierson on April 30th. A replacement opponent for Foster is currently being sought.)
When Brian Foster talks about his brother Brandon, it's almost as if he's in the same room.
In a way, he is, because the UFC welterweight takes a bit of his little brother everywhere he goes, whether it's in the form of a picture, an old football jersey, or as one of those clichés where you say that you have someone in your heart at all times.
It's not a cliché to Foster though, and when you put the term "UFC welterweight" in front of his name, it's a badge of honor that would have never been earned if not for the tragic events of April 30, 2006, when Brandon, just 20 years old, fell to his death when some rocks on a ledge where the two were standing gave way.
From that moment on, the only way for Brian Foster to deal with the pain of his loss was through a new vocation – mixed martial arts. That's the name of the sport. For Foster, it was fighting, and being able to release his anger and frustration in a legal environment became his coping mechanism, not a vocational choice.
"I was doing this merely to get the anger out of me, to use it as a substitution," he said. "I never seen me having a career in the UFC, I never seen it turning into something I would do for a long career."
It did though, because as the years went by, Foster found out he was good at this form of fighting. It wasn't the same as when he would get in trouble as a kid; this time there were rules, different combat sports disciplines, and referees and judges.
Not that he needed those judges. Foster was 14-3 when he got a call to compete in the UFC, and win or lose, he never heard the toll of the final bell. But when he was asked to step onto the big stage, all of a sudden everything had changed.
"When I got the call for my debut, it was a reality check," he said. "It was like 'okay, this is the big time, this is everything. It was an 'either go big or go home' situation for me."
He decided to stay, and Foster's ride since then has been one he'll not soon forget. Winner of three of his five UFC bouts, the Sallisaw, Oklahoma native has earned Fight of the Night and Knockout of the Night awards, and he's competed everywhere from Las Vegas and Austin to Auburn Hills and Sydney, Australia.
"It's amazing," he said. "It's every little kid's dream growing up – you want to travel the world, you want to see things that you don't get to see coming up, and I love it. It's something I got ridiculed about coming up and it was something that people just didn't see me doing. They would say 'This is gonna get you nowhere, fighting people,' and 'why do you want to be so mean?' And I never fought for the wrong reasons; I always fought to defend myself because I was always the little guy. So for me to be able to prove people wrong, that's a dream come true."
It's a dream that rose out of a nightmare, and that fact isn't lost on Foster, who has gone from being an angry young man looking to strike out at the universe for the loss of his brother and best friend to a mature 27 year old just trying to make a living while setting an example for his son.
"Now, it's about being the person everybody knows than I can be," he said. "I don't use the whole anger thing anymore, and I'm trying to be a better person, somebody my son can look up to and a better mentor to these fighters here (at the H.I.T. Squad gym). Mixed martial arts has done that for me."
On April 30th, Foster steps into the Octagon at Rogers Centre in Toronto for his sixth UFC bout, this one against hometown favorite Sean Pierson. It's the fifth anniversary of Brandon Foster's death, and instead of dreading the day, he's finally reached the point where he can embrace it and move on.
"I'm excited about it," said Foster. "I rode that wave of aggression, using him as my motivation for the last five years, and he's still gonna be my inspiration and my motivation, but at the same time, I'm looking at this as a way to put him to rest and kinda be a new person. This is about letting all my anger out of me and growing past it."
If you're looking for compelling storylines for the welterweight matchup, you've found it, but there's also plenty of emotion on the other side of the Octagon, as Pierson, one of Canada's MMA pioneers, will fight in his home province for the first time, and in front of 55,000 of his closest friends to boot. It's almost as if there will be too much going on in the combatants' heads come fight night, but Foster disagrees, believing that the vets will use their individual motivations as just that - motivation.
"I think sticking all that to the side and getting the job done is gonna be pretty easy for us because we know how much is on the line and how dangerous each of us is," said Foster. "We're not trying to go out there and use our emotions or use the crowd."
But what about that crowd, the biggest in UFC history, screaming for their man to bring home the victory?
"I'm excited, and that's like a dream come true in itself to fight in front of that many people and get that many people behind you, to believe in you and know what you're doing this for, and to possibly get to know your life story," said Foster. "I want people to know why I'm doing this, who I am, and the person I've turned out to be. They're gonna hate me going in. I'm fighting their hometown boy, and I'm sure they're loyal fans, but they're gonna love me coming out. I'm a guy who puts it on the line and I fight for it. That's just my style."
It's a feast or famine proposition for Foster every time out, but whatever the result, it's usually a fight you'll be talking about on Sunday morning. He's gone to war with Rick Story, knocked out Brock Larson and Forrest Petz, got submitted by Chris Lytle, and turned the tables and showed off his own submission game in forcing Matt Brown to tap out. Against Pierson, expect more of the same.
"I'm gonna fight the same way every time, like I'm fighting for my job," he said. "The UFC is the place I want to stay; they treat me right, better than any other organization in the world, and that's why they're the best. And I feel that every time I come in there, I'm fighting for my job. This guy's trying to steal my spot and he's trying to move up the ladder a little quicker than I am. This fight's probably not gonna move me up the ladder, but it's definitely gonna put me a little deeper in the mix. And I'm gonna fight the same way I fight every fight – I'm gonna finish you or you're gonna finish me, and the fans love that and the UFC apparently loves that. That's me and that's the style that I'm gonna keep."
And though he never saw his brother competing under the bright lights in the UFC, you get the impression that Brandon Foster would have loved the whole rollercoaster ride. Brian Foster confirms that impression.
"I think he (Brandon) could have been the Don King of MMA," he laughs. "I'm serious, that kid would have used every word in the dictionary and he would have done the speaking for me. He wasn't a very big fighter himself, but he could talk your ear off. He would make you so mad, he was like the Josh Koscheck of my life, straight up. (Laughs) He would have loved it. He was my biggest fan even before I knew I could fight, and he never got a chance to see it. That's why when he died, I told everybody, I'm gonna change my life, I'm gonna do something I think he would have been proud of, and I think I've succeeded. I think he'd be proud. I think he's up there in Heaven smiling and saying 'that's my boy.'"
Jamahal Hill Talks UFC 300 Main Event
Hall Of Fame


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At the Stop & Shop supermarket in my town, though, they rarely sell flanken ribs in big thick slabs that would braise appealingly. Instead, they slice them less than half an inch thick and sell them without any type of cooking instructions at all, usually at prices starting at $4.99 a pound and up. They're not very big sellers.
Yesterday, when I walked past Stop & Shop's meat case, I noticed a bunch of one- to two-pound packages of flanken had been marked down. I checked out the packages carefully, and noticed that many of the cuts were beautifully marbled and had some potential to cook like a steak instead of by a long, slow braising. So I bought four packages and went home to light the grill.
I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The maximum tenderness was achieved by cooking the meat rare - blue was extremely tough, and medium was acceptable but a little on the dry side. Although they were admittedly too thin to result in a really stellar steak experience, for the price (about 99 cents a pound) they were great. And even though they weren't the most tender cuts in the meat case, they were loaded with delicious beefy flavor, very rich and satisfying.
I have seen suggestions on the web that flanken can be marinated before grilling to give a more tender and flavorful result, but I'm not sure I want to do that. There isn't anything a marinade can add to the tenderness of the cut when it's prepared correctly, and too many marinades simply overpower the natural flavor of meat rather than enhancing it.